MURDER OF FRED HAMPTON, THE
Recently added to the U.S. National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, this independently produced documentary from the front lines of late '60s/early '70s political activism and community organizing is both a priceless time capsule of its era and an essential lesson for audiences today. The film is, by necessity, divided in two parts: the first half is the original project, a documentary portrait of Fred Hampton, the charismatic 21-year-old chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, whose work included organizing free health clinics and school breakfast programs. The second half is an investigation into Hampton's murder, along with fellow Panther Mark Clark, in December 1969 by the Chicago police, while Hampton and Clark were asleep in their apartment. Filmmakers Howard Alk and Mike Gray combine interviews with survivors of the deadly raid with a walk-through and re-enactment in the actual crime scene to counter the version of events that was peddled by the Chicago police in the aftermath of the horrific events. DIR Howard Alk; PROD Mike Gray. U.S., 1971, b&w, 88 min. NOT RATED
AFI Member passes accepted.
Run Time: 88 Minutes
Opening Date: Saturday, February 12, 2022
Genre: Documentary
